Feds Call on Agencies, Wireless Carriers to Share Airwaves

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a report that found approximately 95 MHz of "prime" spectrum in the 1755-1850 MHz band that could be repurposed for wireless broadband use.

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Wireless carriers have long complained about a lack of available spectrum. With more and more data-intensive devices like smartphones and tablets coming online, it's only a matter of time before the network is overloaded by text messages, streaming video, and emails.

The easy solution is more spectrum. But how best to dole it out? Today, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a report that found approximately 95 MHz of "prime" spectrum in the 1755-1850 MHz band that could be repurposed - and shared - for wireless broadband use.

In June 2010, President Obama ordered the NTIA to work with the Federal Communications Commission to free up 500 MHz of spectrum over the next 10 years. Later that year, NTIA released a 10-year timetable, as well as a fast track option for what can be done in the next five years. Today's spectrum report builds on those efforts.

It's not as easy as identifying and handing over that spectrum, however. At this point, more than 20 federal agencies hold more than 3,100 individual frequency assignments in this band to perform a host of mission-critical functions, including law enforcement surveillance, military tactical communications, air combat training, and precision-guided munitions, NTIA said.

As a result, there are some challenges that need to be worked out.

First, the government has traditionally reallocated spectrum by moving federal users to other bands. Not surprisingly, however, it's become increasingly difficult to find open bands to which they can move. Second, it might cost more to move the federal users than the government would raise through spectrum auctions, while that relocation process could take up to a decade.

As a result, today's report suggests a private-public partnership of sorts that "relies on a combination of relocating federal users and sharing spectrum between federal agencies and commercial users."

Ultimately, spectrum sharing will be a "vital component" to beating the spectrum crunch, NTIA said.

"NTIA proposes convening discussions between industry and the relevant federal agencies under the auspices of the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee, with the goal of finding ways to work together through sharing or other means to reduce the time and expense of repurposing the 1755-1850 MHz band, while maintaining essential federal capabilities and maximizing commercial utilization," the agency said.

"Spectrum is a finite resource in growing demand, and we need to focus on new ways to maximize its use," Lawrence E. Strickling, NTIA administrator, said in a statement. "By working with the FCC, other federal agencies, and the industry, we can make more spectrum available to fuel innovation and preserve America's technological leadership while protecting vital government missions."

In a statement, AT&T's president of federal regulatory issues, Joan Marsh, said the NTIA's report was an "important step" and pledged to work "cooperatively" with the agency and the wireless industry.

At the FCC, chairman Julius Genachowski said the "NTIA's report demonstrates both the importance of making government spectrum available for commercial mobile broadband, and the challenges to doing so." He recommended narrowing the focus even more to the 1755-1780 MHz band, where there "is a real and unique opportunity to free up 25 MHz of high-value spectrum in the near future."

CTIA, the wireless industry trade association, agreed. "As CTIA has consistently argued, the immediate focus should be on the 1755-1780 MHz band, recognizing that limited government operations may remain in the band beyond the near-term," CTIA president and CEO Steve Largent said in a statement. "We will be significantly concerned if NTIA's efforts to clear the 1755-1780 portion of the band remain in limbo until relocation of all of the operations in the entire 17551850 MHz band can be completed."

Last month, members of Congress inserted language into a larger economic package that would allow the FCC to auction off broadcast spectrum to wireless carriers. Today, the FCC announced it has secured the expertise of several auction theory and implementation experts, who will advise the commission during the process. It will be led by Auctionomics chairman and Stanford professor Paul Milgrom.

Chloe Albanesius has been with PCMag.com since April 2007, most recently as Executive Editor for News and Features. Prior to that, she worked for a year covering financial IT on Wall Street for Incisive Media. From 2002 to 2005, Chloe covered technology policy for The National Journal's Technology Daily in Washington, DC. She has held internships at NBC's Meet the Press, washingtonpost.com, the Tate Gallery press office in London, Roll Call, and Congressional Quarterly. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from American University...
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